Vol. 457 No. 7
22 Mr. O'Malley asked the Minister for the Environment the plans, if any, he has for a restoration programme in respect of urban roads in view of the major ten year restoration programme for regional and county roads. [16338/95]
34 Miss Quill asked the Minister for the Environment the plans, if any, he has for a restoration programme in respect of urban roads in view of the major ten year restoration programme for regional and county roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16327/95]
44 Mr. O'Malley asked the Minister for the Environment the plans, if any, he has for a restoration programme in respect of urban roads in view of the major ten year restoration programme for regional and county roads. [16333/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 22, 34 and 44 together.
The decision to undertake a special restoration programme of regional and county roads took account the seriously deficient condition of significant lengths of these roads, a fact which is attested to by the views of public representatives in this House and elsewhere. The main problems with the non-national road network are to be found in county council areas and these must be given high priority when the available financial resources are being allocated.
As regards non-national roads in urban areas, I should point out that discretionary block grants to urban road authorities have been increased from £5.5 million in 1993 to £8 million in 1995, an increase of 45 per cent. An additional £2.6 million is payable this year to these authorities under the EU co-financed scheme of grants for improvements works.
